Method for producing polymer articles with a modified surface

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for producing polymer articles having highly functionalized surfaces excellent in biocompatibility, by irradiating the surfaces of a polymer article with an ultraviolet laser beam in a solution containing a biopolymer. According to this method, a polymer article that has surfaces with biocompatibility, can be produced.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A method for producing polymer articles whose surfaces are modified, comprising bringing surfaces of a polymer article in contact with a solution containing a biopolymer and not containing a photopolymerization initiator and irradiating the contact surface of the solution containing the biopolymer with an ultraviolet laser beam having sufficient intensity for forming active species on the surface of the polymer article, to induce a photoinduced reaction, to chemically immobilize the biopolymer in the solution onto the surfaces of the article. 
     
     
       2. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet laser beam is an excimer laser beam. 
     
     
       3. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, and biomembrane substances. 
     
     
       4. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the irradiation of the ultraviolet laser beam is carried out by, after immersing the polymer article in the solution of a biopolymer, or spraying or coating the polymer article with the solution of a biopolymer, irradiating the solution surface of the solution of a biopolymer with the ultraviolet laser beam. 
     
     
       5. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet laser light is about 0.1 to 200 mJ/cm 2  /pulse. 
     
     
       6. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 5, wherein the intensity of the ultraviolet laser light is about 2 to 50 mJ/cm 2  /pulse. 
     
     
       7. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       8. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 7, wherein the polysaccharides are selected from the group consisting of alginic acid and dextrin. 
     
     
       9. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biopolymer is dissolved in a solvent which is a substance that has no absorption at the ultraviolet laser wavelength which is used and which is hardly photo-decomposed when irradiated with ultraviolet light. 
     
     
       10. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 9, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, fluorinated alkane compounds, alkane compounds, ethers and alcohols. 
     
     
       11. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concentration of the biopolymer in the solution is present in an effective amount so as to allow the laser beam to reach the article surface. 
     
     
       12. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concentration of the biopolymer in the solution is in the range of 0.01 to 40% by weight. 
     
     
       13. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 11, wherein the concentration of the biopolymer in the solution is in the range of 05 to 10% by weight. 
     
     
       14. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wavelength of the ultraviolet laser beam is 400 nm or less. 
     
     
       15. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laser is an excimer laser or a dye laser. 
     
     
       16. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 15, wherein the laser is an ArF laser having a wavelength of 193 nm, an KrF laser having a wavelength of 248 nm, an XeCl laser having a wavelength of 308 nm or an XeF laser having a wavelength of 351 nm. 
     
     
       17. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymer articles comprise a resin which is either amorphous or crystalline, and either aromatic or nonaromatic. 
     
     
       18. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 17, wherein the resin is either a hydrocarbon resin or a fluororesin, or the resin is a co-condensation polymer of a hydrocarbon resin and a fluororesin, or the resin is a synthetic resin made of a mixture of a hydrocarbon resin and a fluororesin. 
     
     
       19. The method for producing polymer articles as claimed in claim 18, wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyimides, polyamide (nylon) resins, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polysulfones, polysulfides, silicone resins, acrylic resins and methacrylic resins.